3-goal Barcelona stay strong at top of table

Madrid, March 10

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Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez might have been rested but instead both played and scored as Barcelona came from behind to beat Rayo Vallecano, ahead of their crunch Champions League second leg against Lyon.

Raul de Tomas’ scintillating strike gave struggling Rayo a surprise lead at Camp Nou but Messi converted a penalty and Suarez finished a brilliant passing move to seal a 3-1 win, after Gerard Pique had headed in an equaliser on Saturday.

When Barca kicked off, Atletico Madrid had just completed their own 1-0 victory over Leganes, although Diego Simeone was more cautious, resting Antoine Griezmann, Alvaro Morata and Saul Niguez, with Tuesday’s trip to Juventus in mind.

“It is normal when there is an important game on Tuesday,” said Simeone, who substituted Griezmann at half-time. “He was not injured, he had just given all that he had to give.” 

There was always a risk that La Liga’s top two might take their eye off the ball, given Barcelona’s last 16-tie with Lyon hangs in the balance after a goalless draw in France, while Atletico hold a 2-0 lead over Juve but can expect an onslaught in Turin.

“We have a crucial match on Wednesday,” Ernesto Valverde said. “We know the importance it has for many reasons — because of the opponent, the competition and because we have seen what has happened to other big teams already.”

Yet both avoided slip-ups to leave Real Madrid even further adrift in La Liga. Barca stay seven points clear of Atletico and, temporarily at least, move 15 ahead of Real.

Even with a two-goal cushion for the final eight minutes, Ernesto Valverde kept Messi and Suarez on until the end, which may have surprised some, given he was accused of exhausting key players last season at the expense of success in Europe. 

Messi’s appearance was his 443rd for Barcelona in La Liga, moving him ahead of Andres Iniesta and behind only Xavi Hernandez, on 505, in the club’s all-time list. Samuel Umtiti started his second match in three months after recovering from a knee injury.

“Little by little he is reaching his level,” said Valverde.

But Philippe Coutinho was underwhelming again, despite being picked ahead of Ousmane Dembele. — AFP